If Only God Would Speak
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied to Job:
Shouldn't someone answer this torrent of words?
Is a person proven innocent just by a lot of talking?
Should I remain silent while you babble on?
When you mock God, shouldn't someone make you ashamed?
You claim, 'My beliefs are pure,' and 'I am clean in the sight of God.'
If only God would speak; if only He would tell you what He thinks!
If only He would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter.
Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!
Can you solve the mysteries of God?
Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
Such knowledge is higher than the heavens -- and who are you?. . .
If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to Him in prayer!
Get rid of your sins, and leave all your iniquity behind you.
Then your face will brighten with innocence.
You will be strong and free of fear. Job 11:1-15
Shouldn't someone answer this torrent of words?
Is a person proven innocent just by a lot of talking?
Should I remain silent while you babble on?
When you mock God, shouldn't someone make you ashamed?
You claim, 'My beliefs are pure,' and 'I am clean in the sight of God.'
If only God would speak; if only He would tell you what He thinks!
If only He would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter.
Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!
Can you solve the mysteries of God?
Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
Such knowledge is higher than the heavens -- and who are you?. . .
If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to Him in prayer!
Get rid of your sins, and leave all your iniquity behind you.
Then your face will brighten with innocence.
You will be strong and free of fear. Job 11:1-15
Job was a very godly man. His righteousness was attested to by God Himself. God bragged about Job to Satan: "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless -- a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil." In his time of trial, however, we see Job using his righteousness as a basis to question God's fairness. In his eyes, there was absolutely no basis for his suffering. God was not being fair to him. God should be man enough to show up and answer his questions! Job went on and on with his bitter complaints.
Job's friend, Zophar, had had enough of Job's torrent of words and so he sought to defend God by telling Job that his suffering was due to his sins. Zophar advised Job to repent, pray, and believe God to alleviate his pain and suffering.
Three things are worth pondering over.
First: No matter how righteous we are, we should not accuse God of being unfair simply because we are encountering some challenges in life. Our righteousness by itself is not enough to make us demand any special favors from God because the Bible makes it clear that human righteousness on its own merit is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). Every blessing we enjoy is primarily due to the grace of God and not solely because of our righteous acts. We should never have a sense of spiritual entitlement because of our godliness, as wonderful and important as that is.
Second: We should not assume that a person experiences setbacks and trials because they have sin in their lives. It is true that sin can set us back and foment trouble in our lives but the presence of trials in a person's life might not necessarily be due to sin. Zophar assumed that Job was suffering because of his sins. Such a posture does more harm than good to people.
Third: If only God would speak! If only God would break His silence. If only God would speak and set the record straight about situations of faulty human judgment. If only God would speak about situations when innocent people are wrongly accused like Job was! The truth is: God may remain silent for a long time but, in the end, He will speak as in the case of Job! God will speak on your behalf. Don't give up!
Job's friend, Zophar, had had enough of Job's torrent of words and so he sought to defend God by telling Job that his suffering was due to his sins. Zophar advised Job to repent, pray, and believe God to alleviate his pain and suffering.
Three things are worth pondering over.
First: No matter how righteous we are, we should not accuse God of being unfair simply because we are encountering some challenges in life. Our righteousness by itself is not enough to make us demand any special favors from God because the Bible makes it clear that human righteousness on its own merit is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). Every blessing we enjoy is primarily due to the grace of God and not solely because of our righteous acts. We should never have a sense of spiritual entitlement because of our godliness, as wonderful and important as that is.
Second: We should not assume that a person experiences setbacks and trials because they have sin in their lives. It is true that sin can set us back and foment trouble in our lives but the presence of trials in a person's life might not necessarily be due to sin. Zophar assumed that Job was suffering because of his sins. Such a posture does more harm than good to people.
Third: If only God would speak! If only God would break His silence. If only God would speak and set the record straight about situations of faulty human judgment. If only God would speak about situations when innocent people are wrongly accused like Job was! The truth is: God may remain silent for a long time but, in the end, He will speak as in the case of Job! God will speak on your behalf. Don't give up!
Prayer: Lord, I know you are a righteous judge. I am confident that no matter what charges might be brought against me by the adversary, you will speak and uphold my cause. Amen.